Flutter is a software development kit (SDK) that was developed by Google. Like React Native, it is used for the development of cross-platform mobile and desktop apps. Since the update in March 2021, Flutter supports not only iOS and Android, but also Linux, Windows, macOS, and the web. In such
Responsible for an astounding near 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions, the built environment is a driving force behind global climate change mitigation efforts. The range of actors across the sector – from architects, engineers, construction companies to asset managers – have recognised their power to act by signing up
The newly unveiled Heat and Buildings strategy doesn’t go far enough to address major problems in the race to reach Net Zero, warns Tim Rook, Chief Markets Officer at Clade Engineering, a leading designer and manufacturer of CO2 heat pumps. The long-awaited strategy was unveiled yesterday and contains details of the
Research by new-build snagging experts, BuildScan, has revealed how the issue of snagging within the new-build sector has exploded over the last 15 years as well as revealing which issues are likely to render your new home worthless. BuildScan’s data shows that the average new-build home comes with as many
Civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale has been selected by Thames Water to install more than 4km of new trunk main in south east London as part of plans to build additional capacity in the area. The £8.6M project will install a DN800 DI pipeline between Crooms Hill, Greenwich and
Graf-X™ graphene nanoplatelets and precursors significantly improve strength, corrosion resistance, and reliability NeoGraf Solutions, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance natural and synthetic graphite sheet and powder products, has extended its range of next-generation graphite materials with the launch of Graf-X™ graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and graphene precursors (GP). Both
A Nittan Evolution fire detection system has been installed into the Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor by Nittan Elite Partner Solutions for Systems, based in Northern Ireland. Built in 1992, the Bloomfield Shopping Centre has for many years been North Down’s premier shopping destination, featuring a covered mall with 45 retailers,
A £1.7 billion project creating thousands of well-paid jobs and placing Wales at the forefront of renewable energy innovation has been announced by an international consortium. The ground-breaking project proposed for Swansea’s waterfront will include a newly-designed tidal lagoon, featuring state-of-the-art underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy from
OpenBlue Enterprise Manager’s new Performance Advisor application is an all-in-one AI powered solution for optimising both sustainability and health metrics in buildings Industry’s first indoor air quality control system that also monitors energy impact, occupant comfort and space utilisation, breaking down data silos and creating reporting outputs in a single
New housing block to be named after Keith Shaw, an early arrival from the Caribbean who helped establish Metropolitan housing and was a long-standing local resident KeithShaw House will include 50 affordable homes, part of the massive Clapham Park regeneration scheme, which MTVH has been delivering since 2008 Local dignitaries
Flutter is a software development kit (SDK) that was developed by Google. Like React Native, it is used for the development of cross-platform mobile and desktop apps. Since the update in March 2021, Flutter supports not only iOS and Android, but also Linux, Windows, macOS, and the web. In such a way, you need only one codebase to develop an app for all of these platforms. The flexibility of Flutter makes it comfortable for developers to make these apps and minimizes the need to implement specific adaptations for these platforms. If you are interested in a cross-platform solution for your business, opt for Flutter app development services by OTAKOYI. The reasons to choose Flutter The popularity of Flutter has grown considerably in the last few years. Alibaba, Alidrop, Square, eBay, and last but not least Google — all of them use Flutter.” Here is why they use it: Cross-platform development In case you need to develop an app, traditionally, you hire a team of developers for each of the platforms. For instance, in case you need an app for iOS and Android, you would hire two teams of native developers. However, if you use Flutter, you will only need one team. Moreover, you will need twice fewer QA specialists. Furthermore, Flutter’s customizable widgets will reduce the need for a number of designers involved. Thus, Flutter will help you save a lot of money, which is especially important if you use it for MVP or a startup. Developer Experience The term “User Experience” is widely known, but how about Developer Experience? The thing is that the process of coding is very complicated. Therefore, whenever it is possible to facilitate the work of your development team, you should do it. Consequently, your software will be deployed faster as well as the process of work will be less stressful. One of the examples may be the Hot Reload function. Instead of time-consuming and problematic compilation, Hot Reload allows changing the code on the fly without reloading or other manipulations. Advanced Performance Flutter apps generally work better than, for instance, apps made with React Native. It is due to the JavaScript bridge of React Native. It is a useful instrument, but it may slow down the work of an application. Helpful Community The community of Flutter is growing constantly. There are a lot of enthusiasts that will answer your questions, help you solve different sorts of problems, and help you learn Flutter better. Together with that, since Flutter is open-source, you can find a lot of libraries and other free content to complement your software. Google’s Support Another fact that increases Flutter’s credibility is Google’s support. Since Flutter is Google’s development, it is connected to its products. For instance, this may sound obvious, but Flutter’s widgets correspond to the standard that was developed by Google. This example illustrates the intention of the company to develop instruments that are compatible with each other, and since Google is one of the companies that dominate the market, it would be wise to use an instrument that is compatible with almost everything. Also, there is a lot of documentation and learning materials provided by Google. Flutter Development Cost Generally, the price for an app made with Flutter is lower than an app made with the other frameworks, but in fact, the other factors can influence the price of Flutter-made applications. Functionality and complexity This factor is obvious because the more complex is in an application, the more work it requires. As a consequence, it affects the price. Moreover, the price may be increased with the integration of third-party tools or other changes. Developers’ location The wages vary from country to country. North American developers have the highest rates. The devs from Western Europe and Australia would also be expensive. The cheaper alternative would be East Asia or India, but there is a tendency that the quality of code would be much worse. However, there is a possibility to save money without losing the quality. For this purpose, you may hire a development team from Eastern Europe, namely Ukraine, a country where the popularity of professions associated with IT has grown greatly recently. Thus, there are a lot of good specialists available for outsourcing or outstaffing. Design Usually, design is what influences the price of an app greatly. However, as far as the UI is concerned, Flutter decreases the price for design due to its widgets. They cover the standard elements of the UI as well as provide you with the possibility to create and customize new ones. Testing and maintenance The cost of testing with Flutter is lower than with native development tools. The thing is that due to a single codebase you have only one team of developers, and therefore there are fewer possibilities to make mistakes or just for a bug to occur. As a consequence, there is a lower need for testers. As for maintenance, there are no such things that would affect the budget negatively, compared to the other development tools. The thing is that whenever there is an update in Android or iOS, the new content is also added to Flutter, but with a little delay (up to 1-2 weeks). In case is you are worried about whether your users feel the difference between your Flutter-made app and a native app, the answer would be “no.” It is due to the fact that even native apps require some time for an update and testing. Thus, it will not surprise the customer that your update is not instant. It will just be released a little later. Summary All in all, Flutter makes the lives of developers and business owners easier because it makes the development process more convenient as well as lowers the price for the project. A single codebase is a considerable advantage over native development, which cannot be outweighed by the strengths of native. Flutter is a technology with a future because it has shown a lot of growth in the
Responsible for an astounding near 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions, the built environment is a driving force behind global climate change mitigation efforts. The range of actors across the sector – from architects, engineers, construction companies to asset managers – have recognised their power to act by signing up in waves to the Race to Zero through which they have committed to achieve net zero carbon by 2050 at the latest. In the year leading up to COP, the campaign has resulted in hundreds of companies globally committing to the Race to Zero, including: • USD 1.2 trillion real estate assets under management are part of Race to Zero. • Percentage of construction companies in the Race to Zero doubles in the two months prior to COP26. • Over 100 SME construction companies across 10 countries join Race to Zero. • 2030 Breakthrough reached as 20% of Architects and Engineers join the Race to Zero. Race to Zero is the UN-backed, global campaign to rally leadership and support from all non-state actors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery. All members are committed to the same overarching goal: halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the very latest.
The newly unveiled Heat and Buildings strategy doesn’t go far enough to address major problems in the race to reach Net Zero, warns Tim Rook, Chief Markets Officer at Clade Engineering, a leading designer and manufacturer of CO2 heat pumps. The long-awaited strategy was unveiled yesterday and contains details of the Government’s £3,9bn plan to improve access to energy efficient heating technologies. Part of this is a £450m boiler upgrade scheme, which will allow homeowners to apply for grants of £5,000 towards installation of low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps. However, when delving into the details, Tim is concerned that the plan doesn’t go far enough. “It’s great to see the Government finally moving on the climate critical issue of heat and promoting heat pumps as the best form of sustainable heating technology on the market. However, the strategy is far too small and fails to adequately address the major issue of the difference between the price of gas and that of power. If the Government were to rebalance this it would transform the market and really drive mass adoption of low carbon heat pumps,” Tim explains. “The strategy is further confused by the inclusion of hydrogen and weakened by many follow-on consultations and studies. There is some content that is likely political bluster, such as the mention of 25% price reductions for green technologies and its disappointing to see house buildings being given at least three more years of building inefficient housing when we could be building better right now.” He adds Decarbonising heat is one of the most effective ways of lowering emissions in the UK, but with 85% of UK homes reliant on gas for heating, more needs to be done to improve access to green heating technologies. £5,000 grants will help just 90,000 households, a drop in the ocean against the 600,000 annual installations needed by 2028 to reach Net Zero. Time is of the essence, as Tim explains,“There is a fixed budget of carbon we can release into the atmosphere before we exceed our target of 1.5C of global warming. If we fritter that budget away in a short period of time, we don’t get it back. Leaders have to stop being wilfully blind, recognise the critical risks we face and act fast to mitigate them, for all our sakes.
Research by new-build snagging experts, BuildScan, has revealed how the issue of snagging within the new-build sector has exploded over the last 15 years as well as revealing which issues are likely to render your new home worthless. BuildScan’s data shows that the average new-build home comes with as many as 157 snagging issues. That’s up from an average of 80 in 2005, a 96% increase and an average annual jump of 6.4% every year. At the same time, new-build house prices have increased by 44% in value, with homebuyers now paying an average of £340,936 despite the drop in quality. In many cases, these snagging issues can be inconvenient but fairly easy to remedy with poorly fitted doors, poor plastering and low attention to detail amongst the most common. However, in the most severe cases, snagging defects can render your home worthless and BuildScan has revealed the top five new-build nightmares to watch out for. Structural defects are a worst-case snagging scenario and often occur due to shoddy foundation work. Cracking in walls, sloped floors and windows or doors that fail to shut as they should are the most common signs and structural snags can be amongst the most expensive, and difficult, to repair. Poor installation or issues with damp-proof coursing, poorly installed pipework or plumbing system defects can also be costly, causing water leaks, intrusion and damage. Not only can they cause serious flooding damage and lingering damp, but they can also leave new-build homeowners without one of life’s basic necessities. The roof is an integral part of our homes but all too often new-build homeowners can find incorrectly fitted roof trusses. Not only do they pose a real danger, but can also breach the standards set by the National House Builders Council – rendering a home worthless. The roof also protects our home from the elements and so even minor damage can lead to a major issue allowing water to seep into loft spaces, walls, ceilings and floors. Perhaps one of the most dangerous snagging areas is electrical and gas supply issues. Wiring issues, in particular, can be particularly common and can pose a very real risk of fire. A poorly installed gas boiler can also be highly dangerous and in a worst-case scenario, it could cause death via carbon monoxide poisoning or explosion. Finally, dreaded black mould can also render your home worthless. It can be particularly common in new-builds if the home isn’t given time to dry out properly and not only is black mould a nightmare to get rid of, but it too can pose a danger to health. Founder and Managing Director of BuildScan, Harry Yates, commented: “An average snagging list of 157 defects may sound unbelievable but that really is the extent of the issues found by many new-build homebuyers and it’s an issue that has unfortunately grown significantly over the last 15 years. These can range from very minor aesthetic issues to far more serious problems such as structural instability that can result in your home being worthless despite the high price paid. This was the driving motivation behind the launch of the BuildScan app. We wanted to provide a seamless platform to help manage the completion and handover process of a build project, allowing all stakeholders within the construction process to proactively plan and coordinate their workflow. With BuildScan they can complete snagging inspections and log any defects found, manage tasks and workflow to rectify these issues, track progress, include punch lists, surveys and more, all within the same space. They can also invite third parties to the process such as homebuyers, surveyors and contractors so that the communication gap between all parties is bridged and a solution can be found. By doing so, we believe we’ve found that solution to a problem that has plagued the new-build sector for years and this should give home buyers and developers alike the tools they need to solve any snagging issue.”
Civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale has been selected by Thames Water to install more than 4km of new trunk main in south east London as part of plans to build additional capacity in the area. The £8.6M project will install a DN800 DI pipeline between Crooms Hill, Greenwich and Ordnance Crescent, adjacent to the Blackwall Tunnel approach and the O2 stadium, on the Greenwich Peninsular. The programme of works will be a key element of Phase Two of the construction of new water infrastructure between Deptford Water Treatment Works (WTW) and the Greenwich Peninsular and will help Thames Water meet water demand for ongoing and future development. Barhale was also responsible for the completion of Phase One – the Deptford to Greenwich Main – which ran from Broadway Fields near the Stephen Lawrence Centre along Greenwich High Road to Crooms Hill. The new main will connect to an existing DN800 water main at Crooms Hill before crossing Greenwich Park. It will be the largest construction project to be undertaken in the park since the 2012 London Olympics. Barhale contracts manager James McKenzie, described the works as a key part of Thames Water’s strategy to ensure there is a sufficient capacity to meet future requirements. “This part of south east London is seeing a lot of development activity at the moment and that is only likely to continue as cross-river access improves thanks to the new Riverlinx project,” he said. “The new main between Crooms Hill and the Peninsular will be another important step towards meeting increased demand and building greater resilience in the network. “We are particularly pleased to have secured the Phase Two work after having been able to play an important role in the Phase One works and look forward to working with the Thames Water team to bring the project to completion in March 2024.”
Graf-X™ graphene nanoplatelets and precursors significantly improve strength, corrosion resistance, and reliability NeoGraf Solutions, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance natural and synthetic graphite sheet and powder products, has extended its range of next-generation graphite materials with the launch of Graf-X™ graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and graphene precursors (GP). Both high-performance additive materials deliver enhanced mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, thermal properties, and reliability in a broad range of building and construction applications. GNPs are ultra-thin, multilayer graphene nanoplatelets. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal matrix that is high strength, super thin, and offers the highest electrical and thermal conductivity. GPs are graphite products designed specifically as a raw material for efficient high-volume production of graphene products through further processing. The introduction of the Graf-X line is a transformational move for NeoGraf Solutions which has more than 140 years of product leadership and innovation in the carbon and graphite industry. “We’re leveraging our growing production capabilities and application development expertise to take graphene from the lab to large-scale commercial success,” said Jon Taylor, NeoGraf Product Manager. NeoGraf is a fully integrated graphene product supplier with a GNP capacity of more than 750 metric tons and a GP capacity of approximately 1300 metric tons at their facility in Lakewood, Ohio. NeoGraf Solutions’ expanded product portfolio provides the industry with a source of high-volume, quality graphene nanoplatelets with sizing and specification options that can be tailored for specific applications. The company also leverages its extensive sourcing and processing capabilities to supply the industry with graphene precursors, which are graphite products designed to enable efficient conversion into graphene materials. In building and construction, Graf-X graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) can increase the strength of standard concrete by approximately 30% (flexural, compressive, and tensile) at a loading of just >1 wt% or less. GNPs also promote more resistance to cracking and thus extend product longevity. GNP products provide corrosion resistance for rebar-reinforced concrete and serve as a barrier to water absorption, reducing maintenance and reliability costs associated with concrete structures. Cement production for concrete contributes ~8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions today. These graphene additives can reduce the amount of material required to make concrete by 20% or more, resulting in a significant reduction in global carbon emissions. In insulative foams, graphene additives can increase the R-value (a measure of the foam’s thermal insulation properties) by 20% or more compared to the base foam. The advanced graphene materials are commercially available and can be used in a range of applications including tensile strength enhancement in concrete admixtures and R-value increases in extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation boards for home construction. For more information on Graf-X graphene products, please visit www.neograf.com.
A Nittan Evolution fire detection system has been installed into the Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor by Nittan Elite Partner Solutions for Systems, based in Northern Ireland. Built in 1992, the Bloomfield Shopping Centre has for many years been North Down’s premier shopping destination, featuring a covered mall with 45 retailers, eight retail park units and three stand-alone restaurants. A new fire detection system was required at the site and, following detailed proposals by Solutions for Systems, a Nittan Evolution system was installed. William McBride of Solutions for Systems stated “Nittan were specified because the client required that the system selected be compliant, cost effective, user friendly and have functionality to permit integration with existing or future building management systems”. The new fire detection systems feature eight Nittan Evolution 1 fire alarm control panels installed in a network at strategic locations throughout the site, enabling site personnel to quickly and effectively access and assess any alerts on the fire alarm system without needing to return to the control room or to have dedicated staff located at a single panel in a control room. Evolution 1 are user-friendly touch screen panels that are both reliable and cost effective. Fully compliant with BS EN54 part 2 and 4, the Evolution 1 panels have been designed with separate dedicated menus for the user and installer. They have the capability of running up to 254 devices on the loop, while the flexible architecture means everything from a single standalone panel, to a 16 panel network can be achieved without any additional hardware. Evolution 1 panels are compatible with Nittan’s award winning Evolution range, which uses microprocessor technology in the sensors and sophisticated detection algorithms, combining extremely reliable fire detection together with a very high degree of protection against unwanted false alarms. Its advanced, highly flexible protocol is not only uniquely resistant to external interference, but also allows for substantial amounts of information to be transmitted at high speeds. At the shopping centre, Evolution EV-DPH-A2R Dual Optical Heat Detectors were selected, which feature Nittan’s award winning Dual Optical Technology to reduce false alarms, which retail environments are often prone to. Furthermore, the detectors also incorporate an A2R class heat detector. As such, the units are capable of monitoring two very different by-products of a fire –smoke and heat – so response to all fire types is significantly improved when compared with single sensor type units. The Evolution EV-DPH-A2R Detectors sit on Nittan EV-AV2-Sounder Beacon Bases which provide both sound and visual indication of alarm. The new BS5839 Part 1 compliant Nittan Evolution system installed at Bloomfield Shopping Centre is now in operation and meeting the needs of its customer. It provides the level of protection required at a competitive price, from the cost of the equipment through to the installation and ongoing maintenance. Whilst the cause-and-effect requirements of the centre and retail park are relatively complex and detailed, it was easy to configure with the Nittan system and a substantial part of the work to do so was performed off site which reduced on site disruption and installation costs. In addition, the system is open protocol and comes with an extended warranty which means the client has reassurance from an ongoing maintenance perspective that there should be minimal future costs after installation. The open protocol also ensures the Nittan system can readily interface with the existing centre BMS and also the systems in individual shop/retail units. For more information, please contact Nittan on 01483 769 555 or by email at sales@nittan.co.uk or go to www.nittan.co.uk.
A £1.7 billion project creating thousands of well-paid jobs and placing Wales at the forefront of renewable energy innovation has been announced by an international consortium. The ground-breaking project proposed for Swansea’s waterfront will include a newly-designed tidal lagoon, featuring state-of-the-art underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy from the 9.5km structure. The lagoon is part of the larger proposed Blue Eden project that’s being led by Bridgend-based DST Innovations and a number of business partners, with support from Swansea Council and Associated British Ports. Made possible by funding from the private sector, the innovative and economy-boosting Blue Eden will be delivered in three phases over 12 years. The project also includes: A 60,000 square metre manufacturing plant to make high-tech batteries for renewable energy storage A battery facility that will store the renewable energy produced at Blue Eden and power the site. If constructed now, it would be the world’s largest facility of its kind A 72,000 square metre floating solar array anchored in the Queen’s dock area, helping offset CO2 emissions by an estimated two million kilogrammes a year. This would be the UK’s largest facility of its kind, with potential for expansion A 94,000 square metre data centre storing, processing and providing network capabilities for the critical services needed in modern day operations. Entirely powered by an uninterruptable renewable energy power supply, this would be the UK’s first centre of its kind An oceanic and climate change research centre that will become a hub for global excellence and innovation Floating dome structures that will become cultural and scientific centres to be enjoyed by all Residential waterfront homes for 5,000 people Approximately 150 floating, highly energy-efficient eco-homes anchored in the water Blue Eden will be sited along an extensive area of land and water, to the south of the Prince of Wales Dock in the SA1 area of Swansea. All the project’s buildings and facilities, including the eco-homes, will be situated alongside the lagoon and will utilise and enhance the existing land in the area. Blue Eden will create over 2,500 permanent jobs and support a further 16,000 jobs across Wales and the UK, while creating additional jobs during its construction. Renewable energy produced on site will power the entire Blue Eden development, including businesses and a mixed development of affordable housing, assisted living areas and luxury apartments. Due to the innovation on-site, each home will have up to 20 years’ renewable energy and heat provision included with the sale of the properties. The announcement comes as world leaders prepare to gather in Glasgow later this week for the COP26 summit to tackle climate change. Tony Miles, Co-founder and Chief Executive of DST Innovations, said: “Blue Eden is an opportunity to create a template for the world to follow – utilising renewable energy and maximising new technologies and thinking to develop not only a place to live and work, but also to thrive.” The project has been developed following discussions based on a vision put forward by a regional task force led by Swansea Council. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We are aware now more than ever of the need to develop renewable energy supplies to provide sustainable and affordable electricity to families and businesses. “Blue Eden will put Swansea and Wales at the cutting-edge of global renewable energy innovation, helping create thousands of well-paid jobs, significantly cut our carbon footprint and further raise Swansea’s profile across the world as a place to invest. “I’m delighted that an international consortium led by a Welsh company has developed our Dragon Energy Island vision into a ground-breaking project that delivers so many benefits and builds on the council’s ambition to become a net zero city by 2050. “This project truly is a game-changer for Swansea, its economy and renewable energy in the UK, and crucially it can be delivered without the need for government subsidies.” Julie James, Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, said: “It’s so exciting to see this Swansea-based project moving forward at such an important time for Wales and the world. It will bring cutting-edge innovation and research, thousands of high-quality green jobs, excellent low carbon homes and abundant renewable energy. I am delighted to see both Swansea and Wales right up at the top of global innovation and decarbonisation, as it should be. “The project will include a tidal lagoon, featuring state-of-the-art underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy. Swansea has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, and this scheme will allow us to utilise the energy it provides to support our planet for future generations in a world-leading project we can all be proud of. “Renewable energy produced on site will power the entire development, including businesses and a mixed development of affordable housing, assisted living areas and luxury apartments.” Andrew Harston, Director of Wales and Short Sea Ports for ABP, said: “We are engaged in discussions around the Blue Eden project which could deliver renewable energy, new homes and skilled jobs. This innovative prototype has the potential to be a first for the UK and bring Britain closer to our net zero target. “This is an exciting project. If delivered alongside ABP’s own vision for South Wales, the Blue Eden Project could put the region at the very forefront of decarbonisation and digitalisation in Wales and at the vanguard of the energy transition journey and zero carbon living in the developed world.” Senator Joe Manchin, Senator for West Virginia and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said: “The pioneering work being carried out by DST and Batri in both Wales and West Virginia, USA, is a shining example of global collaboration working at its best, delivering innovative solutions that provide substantial contributions to both our war on climate change, and sustaining jobs in our communities.” In a joint statement, Henry Dixon, Chair of the Tidal Range Alliance, and Simon Hamlyn, Chief Executive of the British Hydropower Association, said: “The innovative and exciting
OpenBlue Enterprise Manager’s new Performance Advisor application is an all-in-one AI powered solution for optimising both sustainability and health metrics in buildings Industry’s first indoor air quality control system that also monitors energy impact, occupant comfort and space utilisation, breaking down data silos and creating reporting outputs in a single view to improve building operations Live data ingestion and output supports continuous monitoring, simplifying reporting for environmental certifications and preventing the need for mass data compilations every few years Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today introduced an all-in-one solution that empowers building operators to track sustainability, health and wellness metrics while also reducing energy use, water use, waste, and carbon footprint. The new OpenBlue Performance Advisor application expands on the rich capabilities of Johnson Controls OpenBlue Enterprise Manager solution, supporting organisations seeking to achieve clean air and sustainability targets through data tracking software, artificial intelligence and intuitive dashboards that follow indoor air quality and energy consumption and deliver clean air and decarbonisation recommendations in one clear, comprehensive view. The intelligent software also supports the management of employee health, productivity and tenant experiences while helping to improve indoor air quality and comfort. Johnson Controls OpenBlue Enterprise Manager solution helps facilities managers optimise building portfolio performance through advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence. The solution is a comprehensive suite of applications from Johnson Controls used to monitor and improve indoor air quality, energy efficiency, tenant satisfaction, asset performance, maintenance operations, space performance and the comfort of all occupants. OpenBlue Enterprise Manager supports smart building capabilities for property portfolios ranging across commercial offices, healthcare, mixed use high-end, transportation, retail and K-12 school systems. The new OpenBlue Enterprise Manager Performance Advisor application follows Johnson Controls single pane of glass approach, bringing together various sources of data into a single view that makes it simple to monitor and act on a variety of factors at the same time. Analytics and AI solutions have historically focused on solving for one goal at a time – clean air, energy/carbon, wellness, asset health, comfort, experience, space utilisation, etc. However, the OpenBlue Enterprise Manager Performance Advisor application gives users control over making integrated choices traversing data silos, rather than following static standard operating procedures. Johnson Controls proprietary algorithm measures a variety of parameters such as zone size, occupancy, mask usage and weather forecasts and predicts chances of infection spread. It provides recommendations to facilities managers that improve the building performance, ranging from maximum disinfection to energy minimisation, depending on the given needs of a space at a specific moment in time. A key element of this solution is the OpenBlue Infection Risk Score, providing additional information to enable best decision making. “Supporting healthy and sustainable buildings is at the core of Johnson Controls priorities and the solutions and services we bring to market. Helping our planet heal and reducing the impact of climate change is part of being a good global citizen and a key moral imperative that drives our business,” said Mike Ellis, executive vice president and chief customer & digital officer at Johnson Controls. “Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors continue to grow in importance for building owners and facilities managers in attracting additional investment and tenants. An all-in-one solution that supports elevation of ESG goals while also ensuring occupant safety and comfort addresses the priority needs of our customers in a single, elegant solution.” One example of customer value is in right-sizing automated energy efficiency. The solution’s algorithms use historical operating data and space characteristics to build a dynamic model of each room in a structure, to predict future temperature, air quality and airflow. Models are then used to optimise the desired performance criteria such as energy cost or infection risk. The Performance Advisor application also optimises space utilisation. The application leverages occupancy tracking data and recommends movement of people to alternate spaces. This approach supports the movement of people and resources from over-utilised spaces to under-utilised spaces while also suggesting adjustments to HVAC and lighting systems. To validate the effectiveness of the Performance Advisor application, Johnson Controls collaborated with Martin Z. Bazant, professor of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on the accuracy of infection transmission and air flow models, which are core underlying mathematical models for the Performance Advisor solution. “These models are the first to predict the risk of airborne disease transmission in realistic building simulations, thus allowing HVAC systems to be optimised for public health, as well as comfort and energy efficiency,” said Bazant. To learn more about OpenBlue Enterprise Manager, visit: To download supporting technical papers published in journals related to this product, visit: Energy and Buildings. “Modelling and Multiobjective Optimisation of Indoor Airborne Disease Transmission Risk and Associated Energy Consumption for Building HVAC Systems”: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111497.111497 Science and Technology for the Built Environment “Quantifying the Tradeoff Between Energy Consumption and the Risk of Airborne Disease: https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2021.1984171.1984171 To read more about Johnson Controls POV on why companies benefit from a single strategy for sustainability and digitalization, visit: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/insights/2021/white-paper/the- case-for-unifying-sustainability-and-digitalization-strategies
New housing block to be named after Keith Shaw, an early arrival from the Caribbean who helped establish Metropolitan housing and was a long-standing local resident KeithShaw House will include 50 affordable homes, part of the massive Clapham Park regeneration scheme, which MTVH has been delivering since 2008 Local dignitaries participated in a ceremony marking completion of the building’s structure At a ceremony earlier today, it was announced that a newly completed housing block at the heart of the Clapham Park regeneration scheme will be named after Keith Shaw, who arrived in South London from the Caribbean in the 1950s and spearheaded quality, affordable housing for the community. He helped establish the housing association which would become MTVH (Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing) and was one of its longest-standing residents. At today’s ‘topping out’ ceremony, which marked the completion of the building’s external structure, Shaw’s daughter Sharon Shaw was on hand to help Cllr Ed Davie of Lambeth Council (Thornton Ward), Guy Palmer (Director of Regeneration, MTVH) and Bill Bassenger (Joint Managing Director, Kind & Company) lay the final section of the main structure of what will eventually become KeithShaw House (See “Notes to Editors” on spelling). MTVH is one of the UK’s largest housing associations, providing affordable homes, and care and support services. MTVH is responsible for the overall Clapham Park regeneration scheme. Kind & Company is delivering the construction of KeithShaw House and also built one of the scheme’s earlier blocks at Forster Road. It was decided to name the building after Keith Shaw following a call for local people to submit names of residents with local significance. Keith arrived in the UK in the 1950s to join his mother who had settled in Brixton. He helped Molly Huggins, wife of the Governor of Jamaica, who was troubled by the poor state of housing for the country’s new arrivals, to establish the Metropolitan Coloured People’s Housing Association – later to become Metropolitan (a forerunner of MTVH) – to provide quality, affordable accommodation for London’s Caribbean community. Keith was a resident of the housing association for more than 50 years until his death in 2018. Similarly, KeithShaw House will stand on Donna Mews, named after Donna C Henry MBE. Donna headed a group of residents who drew the attention of Lambeth Council to the social, economic and housing problems of the Clapham Park estate in the late 1990s. She campaigned for the neighbourhood to receive New Deal for Communities status, setting in motion change that developed into the regeneration work that is ongoing today. She diligently chaired the Clapham Park Project for fifteen years until her death in 2020. Sharon Shaw, daughter of Keith Shaw said: “It is wonderful to know that my dad’s name will live on in this way and that the housing association he was so influential in establishing is continuing to make such a positive impact on the local community. This new block will be a great tribute to his work and his commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to quality and comfortable housing. He would have been so thrilled to know that the people in the community which he was so proud to be a part of, will have a wonderful new home bearing his name.” Geeta Nanda OBE, Chief Executive of MTVH said: “This is another important milestone as we continue to regenerate Clapham Park, by building new homes, improving the local environment and providing new opportunities for everyone in the area. As such, we are delighted to honour the memory of Keith Shaw, by naming this building after him. Keith was a real pillar of the local community and an important figure in the history of MTVH. As we mark Black History Month, today’s ceremony is a timely reminder of the huge contribution that pioneers such as Keith and the entire Windrush generation have made to our society.” Bill Bassenger, Joint Managing Director of Kind & Company said: “We are delighted to welcome everyone to this ‘topping out ceremony’, as we move into the next phase of delivery for this scheme. It is lovely to hear the story behind the naming of this block, I am sure Keith would have been delighted and his family must be very proud of the legacy this building will bring – as a former long-term resident, and someone who clearly played an important role in the formation of this housing association, it is a great tribute. “This is the second scheme we will be delivering within Clapham Park for our client, with our last project completing in 2017. We were delighted to have been selected to return to the estate to contribute towards MTVH’s 15-year programme to provide quality new homes for its residents’’. Cllr Ed Davie of Lambeth Council (Thornton Ward) said: “Lambeth Council is very pleased to be supporting this development and we are delighted that local social housing tenants currently living in older, poorer quality housing will soon be able to move into KeithShaw House and other high-quality accommodation. We are also working hard to ensure that local residents benefit from the jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities that this development brings. Clapham Park regeneration is renewing and creating community facilities including a nursery, a children’s centre, schools, parks, shops and the Cube community centre.” Scheduled for completion by October 2023, KeithShaw House will include 50 homes, comprising 41 apartments and nine houses for affordable rent. Residents of Keith Shaw House will be existing Clapham Park tenants, providing a significant upgrade in accommodation and quality of life. On completion, Clapham Park, which spans 36 hectares and is nestled between three local centres, Clapham, Brixton and Streatham Hill, will have a total of over 4,000 homes, plus new community spaces and green areas for the benefit of the entire community.